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To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

That souls of animals infuse themselves

Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit

Govern’d a wolf, who hang’d for human slaughter,

Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,

And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam,

Infus’d itself in thee; for thy desires

Are wolvish, bloody, starv’d, and ravenous.

Shy.

Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,

Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud.

Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall

To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

Duke.

This letter from Bellario doth commend

A young and learned doctor to our court.

Where is he?

Ner.

He attendeth here hard by

To know your answer, whether you’ll admit him.

Duke.

With all my heart. Some three or four of you

Go give him courteous conduct to this place.

Mean time the court shall hear Bellario’s letter.

[Reads.]

“Your Grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick, but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome. His name is Balthazar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant. We turn’d o’er many books together. He is furnish’d with my opinion, which better’d with his own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend, comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your Grace’s request in my stead. I beseech you let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation, for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.”